AN ACT ADDRESSING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
The sixth paragraph of section 3 of chapter 71B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- Whenever an evaluation indicates that a child has a disability on the autism spectrum, which includes autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, childhood disintegrative disorder, or Rhett’s Syndrome, as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, as defined by regulations of the department, shall consider and shall specifically address the following: the verbal and nonverbal communication needs of the child; the need to develop social interaction skills and proficiencies; the needs resulting from the child’s unusual responses to sensory experiences; the needs resulting from resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines; the needs resulting from engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements; the need for any positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports to address any behavioral difficulties resulting from autism spectrum disorder; and other needs resulting from the child’s disability that impact progress in the general curriculum, including social and emotional development.
Approved April 7, 2006.